"Sport is the victim of limitations of the embargo. Sport is one of the main rights of the people, but sometimes there have not been enough resources" – Cuba Sports Ministry Dir of Int’l Relations Tomas Herrera Martinez, on the country’s deteriorating sports infrastructure (N.Y. TIMES, 12/23).
"Until five years ago, I had no idea I was going to buy a hockey team. I had no idea I was going to be living in Tampa Bay. I had no idea I was going to be working on a billion-dollar real estate deal development" – Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik, on his nimble approach to his business ventures (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/23).
"We’ve got 38 bowl games and I heard somebody on our air, Scott Van Pelt, who complained about it (and) said there are too many of them. Now how can you not love this? We have great football going on right now in December. This is awesome. I love it" – ESPN’s Danny Kanell, on the amount of college bowl games (“Miami Beach Bowl: BYU-Memphis,” ESPN, 12/23).
"I don’t go in thinking all right, I’ve got to broadcast towards these people who haven’t watched a single NBA game. But at the same time you can’t ignore the fact that some people might not be up to speed on certain things" – ABC's Mike Breen, on striking a balance for casual and hardcore fans during the net's Christmas Day NBA telecasts (AP, 12/22).
"I don’t even know where to start. There were 20 or so people who stopped doing everything they were doing for nine straight days and did just this. It was a lot of work" – Canadiens Owner Geoff Molson, on the Bell Centre staff quickly converting the facility into a proper funeral space for Hockey HOFer Jean Beliveau (Montreal GAZETTE, 12/23).
